Special to the Sun

Harold Ballard, of Winchester, is the winner of Kentucky Blood Center’s Summer Lifesaver promotion, and he is now the owner of a new Toyota Highlander.

Ballard was camping at Fort Boonesborough State Park over Labor Day weekend and donated at the blood drive at the campground. He heard about the need for blood after Hurricane Harvey, and said he wanted to help. His blood donation not only saved a life, but ended up being the winning entry in the blood center’s summer grand prize drawing.

Anyone who registered to give blood with Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) June 1 through Sept. 8 was automatically entered into the drawing, which consisted of more than 24,000 entries.

Ballard, who is retired from the Clark County Road Department, initially didn’t believe the was really a winner. He thought it was a scam. So he called KBC the next day to verify the information was correct.

When Ballard donated, he didn’t know KBC was giving away a Highlander. He just wanted to help. And today, because of his generosity, he is driving a new Highlander.

To find out more about KBC, visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775-2522.

 

Photos

We presented the Highlander to Harold Ballard today. I’ve attached a photo of Harold and his wife Linda and also one of our CEO Bill Reed with Harold. I’ve also attached one of the Ballard family – here are their I.D.’s:

Left to right:  Sophie Ballard, Anthony Ballard, Angela McKinney, Harold Ballard, Linda Ballard and Melissa Konte. (Anthony, Angela and Melissa are their children. Sophie is a daughter-in-law.)